When the ship launches in summer 2022, the vessel will be the first of six in the Prima class, with one ship set to launch annually through 2027. Prima will sail to the Caribbean, Bermuda and Iceland & Northern Europe, and its itineraries are on sale as of today.
“Despite not having sailed in more than a year, we never stopped working and innovating, and we never once pressed pause,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of NCL, in a press release. “In fact, we doubled down on our brand investment in order to deliver unforgettable guest experiences that go well beyond expectations. Not only will we begin cruising this July, we’re so proud and so incredibly happy to announce the start of an exciting new chapter as we introduce the Prima Class and the first ship in a line of unrivaled vessels with Norwegian Prima.”Prima, which means “first” in Italian, will measure 142,500 gross tons with a length of 965 feet and capacity of 3,215 guests. The ship will be built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, and will feature the line’s first hull art stretching into the superstructure, designed by Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita (a.k.a. “Peeta”).“It’s an elevated class of ship that's focused on putting our guests first,” said Katina Athanasiou, chief sales officer for NCL. “Coupled with our spirit of innovation, we've created and curated the design, the experience, the flow of the ship and all of the variety of experiences to really put our guests’ experience and traveling in mind.”
Among those experiences will be The Haven by Norwegian, Prima’s ship-within-a-ship complex, where all 107 suites will be conveniently located high above the ship’s stern. Accessed by a set of private elevators — and breaking Norwegian’s interior courtyard approach onboard other ships — will be The Haven Sundeck with an aft infinity pool; The Haven Restaurant; The Haven Lounge & Bar; and an outdoor spa with a glass-walled sauna and cold room, all with outside views of the sea.
Beyond The Haven, Prima will feature the line’s “largest-ever inside, ocean-view and balcony cabins, which are up to 50% larger than our existing fleet average,” according to Athanasiou. Specifically, the ship will tout the brand’s biggest bathrooms and showers for such standard staterooms. There will be a total of 13 suite categories, as well.
Altogether, Prima will showcase an abundance of outdoor and pool deck space, including additional infinity pools available to all passengers. Pictured along Ocean Boulevard — the ship’s reimagined take on The Waterfront — is Infinity Beach, which features a pair of infinity pools (one on either side of the ship), flanked by loungers, which are further surrounded by their own shallow wading waters.
Best of all, “we intend at this time for them to be open to everybody” on a first-come, first-served basis, Athanasiou said.
“What we’ve done is create these, what I call ‘vignettes,’ these intimate spaces across the ship that are available in multiple areas so that you don't feel like, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to wake up at 7 a.m. and go put a towel on the pool back,’” Athanasiou said. “There's a variety of experiences and opportunities on this ship that will allow all guests to enjoy.”
Also, at the Ocean Boulevard — which is now double the size of Norwegian’s previous waterfronts, stretching 44,000 square feet and wrapping around the entire deck — will be The Concourse outdoor sculpture garden (with six photogenic installations inspired by mythology), two Oceanwalk panoramic glass bridges and La Terraza sea-view lounge.
Indulge Food Hall will anchor dining options at Ocean Boulevard. The open-air marketplace will include favorites like Q Texas Smokehouse, Starbucks and Coco’s for sweets. Meanwhile, newcomers will be Seaside Rotisserie, Nudls (for noodle dishes), Tamara (for Indian cuisine), The Latin Quarter, Tapas Food Truck, Garden Kitchen for bespoke salads, Just Desserts and Just Ice Cream.
Adding to the indoor and outdoor restaurants will be the specialty Italian food of Onda By Scarpetta and Mexican of Los Lobos, as well as casual eats and live music of The Local Bar & Grill.
Despite the current pandemic, the emphasis on wide-open spaces dates back to the ship’s announcement in 2017, according to Athanasiou.
“Everybody loves more space; everybody loves better design, elevated design,” she said. “Everybody loves being connected to the ocean, especially when you're sailing. So, we were super thoughtful about the guest experience from minute one, which has actually turned into our favor as we enter into this new normal post-pandemic that will allow guests to really get exactly what they want.”
When asked what will be located at the forward top of the ship — where The Haven is located on previous Norwegian ships, as well as expansive observation lounges — Athanasiou said to stay tuned.
“There'll be many of our favorites that people love about Norwegian, along with some new experiences and opportunities for guests to equally fall in love with, but more information will be forthcoming as we announce new stuff,” she said.
In conjunction with the reveal of Norwegian Prima is a giveaway for travel advisors. Through June 30, for every stateroom sold and deposited on any Prima sailing, agents will receive one entry for one of 100 complimentary cruises on one of the new ship’s inaugural sailings.
Prima will first sail to Northern Europe and the U.K. from August to September 2022, and then reposition to Bermuda and the Caribbean, leaving from New York on Oct. 10 and Galveston, Texas, on Oct. 31 before from Miami from Nov. 19 to Dec. 3. For the fall/winter 2022-2023 season, the ship will homeport in Port Canaveral, Fla. and then again from New York to Bermuda in spring 2023. For spring/summer 2023, Prima will head back to Northern Europe.
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